Knockdown box.



,8. H; WEIMER.

.KNOG'KDOWN BOX.

(Application filed Mar. 8, 1900.)

(No Model.)

Patented Sept. ll, I900.

' ATTORNEYS.

i NllFD STATES PATENT @FFIGE.

SAMUEL I-I. WEIMER, OF BOSTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

KNOCKDOWN BOX.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 657,? 50, dated September 11, 1900.

Application filed March 8, 1900. Serial No. 7,863. (No model.)

To all whom it 'ITI/II/Z/ concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL H. WEIMER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Boston, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Knockdown Boxes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in knockdown boxes or crates, and is particularly adapted for use in the shipment of various articles, the primary object of the invention being to construct a box or crate which after the contents have been removed can be folded in a neat and compact bundlefor reshipment as an empty.

Briefly described, the invention consists of a box or crate composed of two sections, of which one is rigid and the other collapsible, the rigid section adapted to receive the various parts forming the collapsible section when the crate is knocked down, and, further, providing a series of stay-bolts for securing the parts forming the collapsible section to the rigid section when the box is set up.

A further object of the invention is to construct a knockdown box or crate of this character which shall be extremely simple in construction, strong, durable, efficient in its use, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture and set up.

With the above and other objects in View the invention finally consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In describing the invention in detail reference is bad to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of my improved knockdown crate or box when set up. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same in a knocked-down position. Fig. 3 is a crosssectional view of the box or crate when set up. Fig. 4 is a top plan view thereof with the cover removed. Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view of one of the corners of the box or crate when set up. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the upper ends. Fig. 7 is an inverted perspective view of one of the upper sides partly broken away.

Referring to the drawings by reference-numerals, 1 indicates the lower or rigid section, constructed of the bottom, lower ends, and side walls. The lower side walls of the section 1 are each provided with a keeper 2, carrying locking-bolts 3, the purpose of which will be hereinafter described.

The collapsible section is formed of the end walls 4 and side walls 4. Each of the walls 4 has secured to its inner facev supportingstrips 5 6, which are of greater length than the walls 4 and are adapted to rest upon the bottom of the box or crate. The end walls 4 abut against the lower end walls of the rigid section when the box is set up. Each side of the end walls has suitably secured thereto an eye 7, and the top of each of the end walls 4 has suitably connected thereto at each side thereof an outwardly-extending retaining-hook 8. The side Walls 4 at each end thereof have suitably secured thereto a pair of eyes 9 and brace-rods 10. The side walls at of the collapsible section have secured therein keepers 11, carrying lockingbolts 12 of the same form as the keepers 2 and locking-bolts 3.

The box or crate is provided with a suitable cover 13, provided at each end with a cross-brace 14 and also having centrally secured thereto a flexible metallic strap 15, having each end extending over the cover 13, as at 16, the lower end of which is provided with an eye 17 to receive the locking-bolt 3 when the crate is in the knockdown form, as shown in Fig. 2. The reference-numeral 18 indicates a series of stay-bolts, which extend upwardly through the rigid section 1 and pass through the keepers 7 and 9 of the upper side and end walls. These stay-bolts are secured in position by means of nuts 19, mounted upon the upper end thereof.

The box is set up as follows: The upper end walls are placed upon the ends of the rigid section, the upper side walls then placed in position, and their upper end is engaged by the retaining-hooks 8. This will be seen in Fig.1. In the meantime the stay-bolts have been passed through the eyes 7 and 9, and the nuts are then mounted upon the free ends of these bolts, securely holding thecollapsible section and cover-in position. The lockingbolt 12 is then inserted in the eye 17 of the strap 15, and serves to thus lock the ends ofv the strap to protect the same from breakage during transportation.

in the rigid section 1, the end walls placed on top of the same, the cover placed 'in'position, j as shown in Fig. 2, and the locking-bolt 3,

engaging in the eye 17, will securely retain the parts within the rigidsection 1. of course be understood thatboth ends of the strap are the same in construction and that a keeper 2 and locking-bolt 3 are provided at each side of the crate, so that both ends of the strap may be secured when the crate is in the knockdown form, as shown in Fig. 2.

It is thought that the many advantages of my improved box or crate can be readily und erstood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and it will be noted that various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the general spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A knockdown crate comprising a section 1 consisting of a bottom, side walls, and end walls, and a collapsible section consisting of side walls, end Walls, and a cover, said side When the box is knocked down, the side walls are placed with- It 'Will and .end Walls of the collapsible section carrying eyes, stay-boltspassed through the said eyes and engaging the bottom and cover, a strap secured to said cover and provided with downwardly-extending ends having eyes, a keeper secured to eachside wall'of the section 1, and a locking-bolt operating in said keeper to engage the eyes of the strap and secure'the crate in the knockdown form, substantially as described.

2. Aknockdown crate, comprisingasection '1 :hav-ingside walls, end walls and a bottom secured rigidly together, and a collapsible section comprising side walls, end walls 4, and a cover, strips secured to the inner face of said end walls 4:, an eye carried on the ends of said end walls 4, eyes carried on the ends of said side walls of the collapsible section, bolts passing through said eyes and the bottom and cover at each corner of the crate, a strap carried by said cover and having downwardly-extending ends provided with eyes, and lock-bolts carried by the sides of the section 1, to engage With the eyes of said strap and secure the crate in the knockdown form, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of 'two witnesses.

SAMUEL H. WEIMER.

Witnesses:

JOHN N OLAND, E. W. ARTHUR. 

